Arming device for a fuze



April 15, 1958 E. L. CECIL, JR 2,330,539

ARMING DEVICE FOR A FU-ZE Filed Aug. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

8 INVENTOR. E. L. CECIL JR.

ATTYS April 15, 1958 E. L CECIL, JR 2,830,539

ARMING DEVICE FOR A FUZE Filed Aug. 2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F:IG.3.

8 INVENTOK- E..L. CECIL JR.

W ATTYS rockets.

2,830,539 Patented Apr. 15, 1 958 I This invention relates to a fuze and more particularly to an arming device for afuzeemployed in anordnance inissil e such,flfor. example, as a projectile,'r ocket, guided i p p I s 1o (Granted under Title 35, U. s. Code 1952), sec; 266) missile or the like adapt ed tobe fired in response to an p I electrical impulse.received therebypn.ornear the target "I or by mechanical firing means actuated. upon impact of the missile with a target as the case maybe. y w 1. Heretofore, arming devices were actuated to arm the,

fuze in various ways such, for example, as. by centrifugal force. available in response to the spin of the missile 'mcaused by the. riding infthe gun vbarreland the driving band on the missile as the missile was firedfrorn a. gun or in response to setback force as the missile was fired 'frorn the gun or by spring "devices ,operatively connected to the armingfrotorand adapted to be rotated to an arm ing position when thefarming rotorwas released by proto an armed position when the detonator is fired in re-. sponse to an electrical impulse.

A still further object is the provision of an arming device for a fuze in which explosive means is employed for causing the arming rotor therein to be moved from an initial safe position to an armed position in response to expansion of a pressure responsive device controlled by explosion of the explosive means. i

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference 'to' the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partially broken away of the arming device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. l; 1

Fig.3 is a sectional view taken on the line. 3-3 of 'Fig. 1 'with the arming rotor in a safe position; and,

peller controlled means or the like during the free flight.

of the missile toward the target. However, it has been found that such types of arming devices arenot adaptable for usein certain of the newly developed types of missiles, particularly the newqtypes of rockets, for-thev reasonihat. the. aforesaid forcesfare not available in .such rockets in suflicient magnitude to cause .such arm- A ing devices'to function properly and the spring actuated arming means are not very practical for use in jsuch The present invention contemplates,theprovision of a new and improved arming devicegfor afuze whichis particularly. adapted for use. in thefnew types'of rockets Hand in which means including.an felectroresponsive deton ator is employed for"causinggthe fuze armingmecha .nism to be actuated to an armed position as the; detonator is fired in response? to an" electrical impulse iniptiated at the desired time and controlledby suitable instrumentalities arranged in the electrically controlled 'fuzeor. by additional electrical instrumentalities arranged .in a mechanically controlled fuze. device of the present invention possesses advantages over theprior art arrning devices for the reason that it will function independently of the duration of external forces ,such, for example, as spin,. set-back force ordrag and .thusasuch an arrangement is readily adaptable-for use in for use in either an electrically controlled fuze system or a mechanically. controlled fuze system.

Another object is the provision of an arming device .in which a pressure responsive member is utilized for causing anarming r'otor tobe moved from an initial safe position to anarmed position in response to a predetersive member.

mined amounto f pre'ssure'applied to the pressure responj 'Afurther object is to provide an arming device having pressure controlled arming means actuated by the explosion of anelectrorfesponsive detonator for causing the .armingmeans to bemoved from an initial safe position as by a spring gasket 16 composed of any material Furthermore, the

. 'Fig. 4 is a view similiar to Fig. 3 with the arming rotor in an armed position.

' Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 generally indicates the arming device of the present invention comprising a casing 11 composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as steel, brass or the like.

As more clearly shown on Figs. 3 and 4, the casing 11 has formed therein a bore 12 one end of which terminates in a conical portion 13 in communication with a well 14. Disposed within the well 14 and bordering on the conical portion 13 is a preformed deformable metallic diaphragm 15, the diaphragm being sealed to the casing and within the well in any well known manner 1 suitable for the purpose such, for example, as brass or the like. The Well 14 is sealed by a plug 17 secured to the casing by threaded engagement therewith and thus a pressure chamber 18 is formed between the diaphragm 15 and plug 17, the purpose of which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. I h

A circular rack generally indicated by the' reference character 19 is slideably arranged within the bore 12 and comprises a toothed portion 21 disposed between a pair of cylindrical members 22 and 23, the member 22 being disposed within the bore 12 and adapted to slide therethroug h, the member 23 initially extending into the conical portion 13 of bore 12 and secured to the central portion of the diaphragm in any suitable manner such,

for example, as welding the parts together.

A well 24, Figs. 3 and 4, is formed in the casing 11,

nator assembly generally indicated by the numeral 25 and comprising a sleeve 26, having an electroresponsive detonator 27 secured therein in any well known manner, is secured in threaded engagement with the casing and sealed therein by a frangible disc 28. The detonator is provided with a pair of terminals 29 for establishing an external electrical connection thereto whereupon the detonator may be fired in response toan' electrical impulse received thereby. i

A bore 31 is'formed within and extends transversely through the casing 11, Fig. 2-, the bore being at a right angle with respect to bore 12 and having an arming rotor generally indicated by the reference character 32 rotatably supported therein. The arming member comprises a shaft 33 having a segmental toothed member 34 formed thereon in engagement with toothed portion 21 on the member 19 whereupon the arming member is rotated from an initial safe position to an armed position when the member 19 is suddenly moved a predetermined amount by the diaphragm 15 as the diaphragm is deformed and extended in response to the gas pressure applied thereto by the expansion of the gases within chamber 18 when the detonator 27 is fired. Disposed about each end portion of the shaft 33 respectively is a bearing sleeve 35 secured to the shaft as by a press fit and in engagement with the wall defining the bore 31 and thus by this arrangement the arming rotor is rotatably supported within bore 31.

A pair of bores 36 is formed transversely in the shaft 33 and bearing member 35 in spaced relation with respect to each other and having a pair of detonators 3'7 arranged therein respectively and normally out of alignment with a pair of bores 38 formed in the casing fl and extending therethrough, the bores 38 having a pair of lead-in charges 39 arranged therein. When the arming rotor has been moved to an armed position, Fig. 4, the detonators 37 are brought into alignment with the leadin charges 39. It will be understood, however, that when the device is armed the detonators 37 may be firedin any suitable manner such, for example, as by dual. firing means disclosed and claimed in the copen-ding application of Raymond H. Blair et al. for a Tail Fuze for an Ordnance Missile, Serial No. 245,566 filed September 7, 1951 now Patent #2,805,623, or by electrically controlled firing means such, for example, as disclosed in the copending application of Howard C. Filbert, J12, et al. for a Water Discriminating Fuze, Serial No. 131,651 filed December 7, 1949 now Patent No. 2,789,506. Furthermore, it will be understood that the arming rotor 32 is maintained within the bore 31 when the arming device is assembled within the fuze casing by any means suitable for the purpose such, for example, as the usual booster charge container secured to the fuze casing (not shown) and adapted to enclose the casing 11 of the arming device It), the aforesaid container being adapted to limit the movement of the circular rack 19 when the diaphragm has been expanded and deformed by the gas pressure and the rack has been moved to a position as shown on Fig. 4.

The operation of the device will now be described. Let it be assumed, by way of example, that the detonator Z7 is fired by an electrical impulse received thereby. When this occurs, the gases produced from ignition and burning of the explosives in the detonator expand into chambe 18 whereupon a sumcient amount of pressure is applied to diaphragm 15 to cause deformation or expansion thereof and thus as the diaphragm suddenly expands and is deformed into uniform close fitting engagement with conical surface 13, Fig. 4, in response to the pressure, the rack member secured to the diaphragm is suddenly moved a predetermined amount and locked in the moved position by the diaphragm. During such movement of the rack member 19, the toothed portion 21 thereon in engagement with the segmental toothed portion 34 of the arming member causes the arming member to be rotated from an initial safe position, Fig. 3, to an armed position, Fig. 4. However, when the diaphragm has been fully extended into engagement with the walls defining the conical portion 13 of bore 12, Pig. 4, the rack member is locked by the rigidity of the metallic diaphragm and thus further rotation of the rotor by the rack in either direction is prevented thereby locking the arming rotor in an armed position with the detonators 37 in alignment with the lead-in charges 39.

Briefly stated in summary, the present invention comprises the provision of a new and improved pressure actuated arming device for an ordnance missile in which the arming means thereof is controlled by gas pressure produced by ignition and combustion of a detonator which is fired in response to an electrical impulse whereupon a movable toothed rack member in engagement with a segmental toothed arming member is moved a predetermined amount by a deformable metallic pressure responsive device as the pressure responsive device is deformed in response to the gas pressure applied thereto, and thus the rack member is moved sufiiciently by the pressure responsive device to cause the arming rotor to be rotated from an initial .safe position to a locked armed position when the rack has been moved a predetermined amount and the diaphragm has reached the limit of distortion in engagement with conical surface 13.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present-invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. it is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. in a pressure controlled arming device of the character disclosed, a sealed casing, an electroresponsive detonator arranged within said casing and fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby for generating pressure within the casing, a preformed circular metallic diaphragm sealed within the casing and adapted to be suddenly deformed in response to said pressure, said diaphragm comprising two concentric reversely curved annular portions for providing a predetermined degree of initial rigidity thereto, means including a membersecured to said diaphragm within the smaller of said annular portions and slideably arranged within the casing and movable to an armed position quickly when said member is moved a predetermined amount by said diaphragm as the diaphragm is deformed, a conical surface formed on said casing in the path of travel of the diaphragm and in closely spaced adjacency therewith for limiting the movement of the diaphragm whereby said member is invariably moved to and locked in said armed position by said diaphragm as the diaphragm is deformed into uniform contact with said surface.

2. In a pressure controlled arming device of the character disclosed, a casing, an electroresponsive detonator arranged within said casing and fired by an electrical impulse received thereby for generating pressure within the casing as the detonator is fired, a preformed circular diaphragm composed of metallic material and sealed within the casing and adapted to be suddenly deformed by said pressure, means including a rack secured to said diaphragm and quickly movable to an armed position as the diaphragm is deformed, and a conical surface formed on said casing in the path of travel of said diaphragm in closely spaced adjacency therewith for limiting the movement of the diaphragm whereby the arming means is invariably moved to said armed position and locked by the diaphragm as the diaphragm is expanded into uniform close fitting contact with said surface.

3. In a pressure controlled arming device of the character disclosed, a casing, an electroresponsive detonator arranged within said casing for generating pressure therein as the detonator is fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, a preformed circular pressure responsive diaphragm composed of metallic material and sealed within the casing, an arming member supported within said casing for rotation from an initial safe position to an armed position, a rack member secured to said diaphragm and movable therewith, means on said arming member in engagement with and actuated by said rack member for moving the arming member quickly from said initial safe position to said armed position when the diaphragm is suddenly expanded a predetermined amount by said pressure, and a conical surface formed on said casing in the path of travel of the diaphragm in closely spaced adjacency therewith for limiting the movement of the diaphragm whereby the arming means is invariably moved to and locked in said armed detonator. is fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, an arming member rotatably supported within the casing for rotation from an initial safe position to an armed position, means including a, rack member slideably arranged within the casing and secured to and movable by said diaphragm for quickly rotating the arming member from said initial safe position to said armed position as the diaphragm is suddenly expanded and deformed by said pressure, and a conical surface formed on said casing in the path of travel of said dia- .phragm in closely spaced adjacency therewith for limiting the movement of the diaphragm whereby the rack member is suddenly moved an amount suflicient to move the arming member to said armed position and the arm- 1 ing and rack members are lockedin said armed position by the diaphragm as the diaphragm is deformed into uniform close fitting contact with said surface.

5 A device for arming an ordnance missile comprising a casing, means on said casing and including a preformed deformable diaphragm composed of metallic material and sealed therein for forming a pressure chamber, an electroresponsive detonator secured to said casing in communication with said chamber for generating pressure therein as the detonator is fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, means on said detonator for establishing an external electrical connection thereto, an arming member supported within the casing for rotation from an initial safe position-to an armed position,

a plunger secured to said diaphragm and movable thereby as the diaphragm is suddenly deformed in response to said pressure, a segmental toothed portion on said arming member, a complementary toothed portion on said plunger in engagement with said segmental toothed por- I tion for causing the arming member to be quickly rotated from said initial safe position to said armed position as said plunger is suddenly moved a predetermined amount in response to the deformation of the diaphragm, and a conical surface on said casing in the path of travel of the diaphragm in closely spaced adjacency therewith for limiting the movement of the diaphragm whereby said plunger is suddenly moved an amount sufficient to move the arming member into said armed position as the plunger is moved and locked by said diaphragm as the diaphragm engages said conical surface.

6. A device for arming an ordnance missile comprising a casing, means including a plug secured to said casing 6 and a preformed deformable metallic diaphragm for forming a normally sealed pressure chamber therebetween, an electroresponsive detonator secured to said casing in communication with said chamber for explosively generating pressure therein as the detonator is fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, a pair of terminals on said detonator for establishing an external electrical connection thereto, an arming member rotatably supported within the casing for rotation from an initial safe position to an armed position, a cylindrical member secured to said diaphragm and quickly movable thereby as the diaphragm is suddenly deformed in response to said pressure, a segmental toothed portion on the arming member, a complementary toothed portion on said cylindrical member in engagement with said segmental toothed portion for causing the arming member to be quickly rotated from said initial safe position to said armed position as the cylindrical member is moved in response to the sudden deformation of said diaphragm, and a conical surface on said casing for close fitting engagement by the diaphragm when the flexible portion of the diaphragm is forcibly deformed into engagement with said surface in response to said pressure whereby the cylindrical and arming members are locked in said armed position by the deformed diaphragm.

7. A device for arming an ordnance missile comprising a casing, an electroresponsive detonator arranged within said casing for generating pressure therein as the detonator is fired in response to an electrical impulse received thereby, an arming member supported within the casing for rotation from an initial safe position to an armed position, driving means slideably arranged Within the casing and operatively connected to said arming member for rotating the arming member from said initial safe position to an armed position when the driving means is moved a predetermined amount, an expansible preformed deformable diaphragm secured to said driving means and controlled by said pressure for quickly moving the driving means said predetermined amount as the pressure responsive means is suddenly deformed in response to said pressure, a conical surface formed on said casing in the path of travel of the diaphragm in closely spaced adjacency therewith for locking said arming means in said armed position as the diaphragm is forcibly deformed into engagement with said surface in response to said pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,324 Middlemiss May 13, 1947 2,486,362 OBrien Oct. 25, 1949 2,575,071 Rockwell Nov. 13, 1951 2,685,253 Apotheloz M.-. Aug. 3, 1954 

